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The people of African descent from Santo Amaro da Purificação, located near All Saints' Bay in a sugar-cane producing region, have commemorated the abolition of slavery with the Bembé do Mercado festival since 1889, one year after the Emancipation Proclamation. The festival is a folk and religious tradition in which the local population plays an important role as it is organized by the fishermen and fish sellers of Santo Amaro. It takes place in front of the Municipal Market, where two small stages are set up. For three days, starting on Friday, groups of samba de roda-a traditional style of samba danced in a circle; Afoxés-Afro-Brazilian Carnival groups; maculelê-a sword dance; and capoiera-an Afro-Brazilian martial art practised to music, a warrior's dance, perform on the small stages alongside religious dances in honor of the orixás of the waters, Oxum-the goddess of rivers, lakes and rain, and Yemanjá-the goddess of the sea. The Bembé do Mercado festival also commemorates the end of official persecution of African-based religious faiths. This is why, as a part of the festival, an offering is made to Yemanjá on the nearby beach of Cabuçu.
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